QotW: Which influential person in the JNC world, living or dead, would you like to meet?

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Ben Hsu

History is full of influential men and women whose training, decisions, and determination conceived of and built the things we love today. Engineers, designers, CEOs, race car drivers, tuners, and so on. If someone had a magic  machine through which we could talk to these figures, living or dead, with no language barrier, who would you like to meet? I would love to be able to chat with Ichiro Suzuki, the father of the JZA80 Supra and Lexus LS, to ask what it was like to be entrusted with building not just a car, but a brand, that would challenge the world’s best (and also, you know, what he’d think of the new Supra).

Which influential person in the JNC world would you like to meet?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your ultimate JCCS build?” Continue reading →

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JCCS Preview: Come check out some new 2020 Hot Wheels at the JNC booth tomorrow, and maybe win a Super Treasure Hunt R32 Skyline GT-R

Posted on September 20, 2019 by Dan Hsu

Our friends at Hot Wheels have some amazing Japanese cars in the works, and they will be giving a sneak peek at our booth at JCCS tomorrow, September 21. There will be some never-before seen Japanese castings, as well as some new recolors of existing castings, about a dozen cars in all: Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, and more! Also, we will be posting on our Instagram page tomorrow morning on how you can win one of the 2020 Super Treasure Hunt Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R models at our booth, so be sure to follow us. See you in Long Beach!

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JCCS PREVIEW: Z Generations 50th Anniversary special edition shirts

Posted on September 20, 2019 by Dan Hsu

One of the best selling items in the JNC Shop has been the Z Generations shirt, depicting all six iterations of the venerable Z chassis. However, this year marks the 50th anniversary for this game-changing car, and we wanted to honor it in a special way. We’ve changed it up a little, and will be using a reflective gold leaf instead of the regular white ink. We’ve also created a special sleeve logo inspired by the advertising of the original Fairlady Z. And due to strong demand, we are offering women’s sizes as well. As usual we will offer the shirts at the JNC booth at JCCS first, then put the rest for sale in the JNC Shop if there are any left. See you on Saturday in Long Beach!

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Here’s the new Emperor’s Toyota Century convertible

Posted on September 19, 2019 by Ben Hsu

The 30-year Heisei Era came to an end and the Reiwa Era began with the official transition of royal rule on May 1 of this year. However, the new emperor’s actual coronation ceremony, which expects foreign dignitaries and envoys from 190 countries, doesn’t take place until October 22. On September 19, photos were released of the car that the royal family will be taking to the succession ceremony — a convertible Toyota Century. Continue reading →

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A Subaru 360 came out to celebrate Subaru USA’s 10 millionth sale

Posted on September 18, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Nate Wade Subaru of Salt Lake City, Utah is the oldest Subaru dealer in the United States. It just celebrated its 50th anniversary, and recently had the honor of selling Subaru’s 10 millionth car in the US. That car was a 2019 Impreza, but also joining in the festivities was a little Subaru 360, the company’s first and only model offered when it opened its doors in 1968. Continue reading →

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SHOWA SNAP: Tokyo Imperial Plaza, 1967

Posted on September 17, 2019 by Ben Hsu

With Tokyo Tower looming in the background, the streets in front of the Imperial Palace were absolutely teeming in 1967. Four lanes of traffic in each direction couldn’t keep the stream of Crowns, Cedrics, Glorias, Bluebirds, Publicas, and Minicas flowing. For the sporting driver, there’s even a Sora Blue Fairlady Roadster in the bottom right. This postcard from the era showed just how quickly Japan was motorizing in the Golden 60s.

Image: eBay

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QotW: What’s your ultimate JCCS build?

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Ben Hsu


The 15th annual sapanese Classic Car Show is this Saturday, September 21. For many, it has been the one place in America where you can see the vast range of Japanese cars all in one spot. There is always something new to see, and where many people debut long-awaited projects that have never been seen. Whether is the most carefully preserved Mazda RX-4 wagon, a 100-point restoration Subaru 360, a bosozoku Toyota Mark II imported directly from Fukuoka, or a classic Datsun skin with the running gear of a 600-horsepower Nissan powertrain, there is something for everyone. But if you had an unlimited budget:

What’s your ultimate JCCS build?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What kind of JNC stuff can you find for a baby?” Continue reading →

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NEWS: Calsonic is no more, say hello to Marelli

Posted on September 13, 2019 by Ben Hsu

As of September 9, Calsonic Kansei is no more. The company whose bright blue livery graced many a Bubble Era race car is now known as Marelli. That’s Marelli, as in Magneti Marelli SpA., the Italian supplier of electronics, fuel injection systems, and engine components whose own logo has graced many famed race cars from the other side of the globe. Continue reading →

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VIDEO: A Mazda Miata now holds the world record for most hairpin turns in 12 hours

Posted on September 12, 2019 by Ben Hsu

While most automakers are chasing speed records on the Nürburgring, Mazda has been quietly unlocking an achievement of a different sort. Mazda Germany revealed last month that back on July 18, it had broken the world record for most hairpin turns in a 12-hour period, a fitting coup for a company that prides itself on sharp handling and fun-to-drive cars. It was a stunt to celebrate the iconic roadster’s 30th anniversary and furthermore, they did it with a vintage Miata. Continue reading →

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VIDEO: How Honda was making some of the world’s most precise machines in 1967

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Though Honda was still in its infancy in 1967, it was already conducting some of the world’s most precise engineering. A video tour of the company’s Wako R&D facility and various plants is a fascinating glimpse into Honda’s operations at the time. Engineers in crisp, white labcoats perform countless tests, automated tools churn out part after part, and quality control technicians run then-new S800s on the “Test-O-Matic.” Continue reading →

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MARKETWATCH: MF12 Toyota 2000GT prototype sells for $820,000

Posted on September 10, 2019 by Ben Hsu

At a high end sports car auction in Tokyo last weekend, a 1969 Toyota 2000GT sold for a record ¥88 million ($820,000 USD). Though other 2000GTs have sold for over $1.1 million, this is a new auction record for the later and less desirable MF12 model, and even among the rarest of the rare, this particular example was a very special one. Continue reading →

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SHOWA SNAP: Chiyoda, Tokyo, 1972

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Tokyo’s subway system is a confounding wonder, but as late as 1972 the metropolis still had streetcars that drove alongside traffic. Here in the Chiyoda district, 510 Bluebirds, Cedrics, Sunnys, Corona Mark IIs, and kujira Crowns teem among the rails. Just another day in Tokyo.

Image: hiromi7

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QotW: What kind of JNC stuff can you find for a baby?

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Matt De Mangos

As we mentioned before, two members of the JNC team had little ones this year. Brandon Kelley and his wife had their son, Maximus, and Ben Hsu and his wife had their son, Cedric. However, it can be incredibly hard to find proper JNC-themed gifts for pre-Hot Wheels age kids. Typically, anything car-related will feature generic, unlicensed blobs on wheels. Or, they’ll have your typical Mustangs and such. Probably the most popular real car on kiddie gear is the VW Bus. The Munchkin Motors 240Z above is a rare exception. So, readers:

What kind of JNC stuff can you find for a baby?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the coolest JNC work vehicle?” Continue reading →

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What cars were parked at Toyota USA headquarters in the 1980s?

Posted on September 6, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Toyota is long gone from southern California, but back when they were still in Torrance, their massive campus was a showcase of its then-current models. This was especially true in the 1980s, when their star was on the rise. These images from the TRD 40th anniversary video show a treasure trove of unmolested Aichi steel. Continue reading →

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KIDNEY, ANYONE?: Eric Bizek’s KP61 Toyota Starlet

Posted on September 5, 2019 by Ryan Senensky

Typically, we don’t name drop the Kidney Car’s seller, but if you are even remotely familiar with our site, or the American JNC community, the shop JDM Legends is a household name. The Utah-based restomod shop has been around as long as we have, just over 10 years, and have been cranking out some of the best JNC builds in the country since. They even have their own TV show. Now, you have a chance to own JDM Legends’ owner’s personal car. Continue reading →

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PIXELATED: Honda celebrates 30 years of gaming with new ad

Posted on September 4, 2019 by Ryan Senensky

Honda has a new commercial celebrating 30 years of video games. Apparently, the company sponsors a team of professional gamers that is competing in the upcoming League of Legends championships, and released the ad to commemorate the occasion. Can you name all the appearances? Continue reading →

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VIDEO: FJ Company’s G43 is a restomod Land Cruiser done right

Posted on September 4, 2019 by Ben Hsu

There is exactly one Japanese car that has achieved the kind of cult following that spawns aftermarket companies building ground-up tributes to the original, and it’s not a car at all. The Toyota Land Cruiser, like the Porsche 911, has inspired a thriving restomod industry surrounding the singular model, with the top end builders charging many times the cost of the original car for their bespoke creations. Continue reading →

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NEWS: Japan’s postal service honors 50 years of GT-R and Z with postcards

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Ben Hsu
Japan Post Nissan Skyline GTR nenga postcard PGC10 KPGC110 R32 R33 R34 R35
Japan Post Nissan FairladyZ nenga postcard S30Z S130 Z31 Z32 Z33 Z34

Like Christmas cards in the US, Japan has a tradition of sending nenga, or New Year’s postcards for the upcoming year, during the year-end holiday season. This year, to honor the 50th anniversary of the Nissan GT-R and Fairlady Z, Japan’s postal service is publishing nenga celebrating the iconic cars that have been part of the country’s cultural fabric for half a century. Continue reading →

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QotW: What’s the coolest JNC work vehicle?

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Ben Hsu

It’s Labor Day, an occasion to honor the hard working men and women that make the world go round. We also recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of one of Japan’s most popular work vehicles, the Isuzu Elf. It’s the perfect time to ask:

What’s the coolest JNC work vehicle?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What Japanese luxury car would you get, and why?” Continue reading →

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VIDEO: Motorweek reviews the 1987 Acura Legend Coupe

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Lexus and Infiniti might wear the Japanese VIP crowns today, but in 1986 Acura was the first to challenge the idea that a luxury car could come from Japan. The Legend was loaded with features like leather, automatic climate control, and premium stereo, and gave buyers who wanted luxury without the European price tag a fresh new alternative. And yet, the notion of nearly $29,000 Honda was unthinkable to most Americans at the time. Continue reading →

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